“Chicken-for-votes” allegations rock Armenian political scene

Supporters of Russian oligarch Samvel Karapetyan have been accused of attempting to influence voters in Armenia through the distribution of livestock and poultry, including chickens.

The allegations emerged following actions taken by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee and the National Security Service, as part of a criminal case initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Authorities said they had obtained factual data indicating that a supporter of the Strong Armenia party, linked to Karapetyan, together with other individuals, distributed domestic animals and birds to residents in various regions of the country in violation of legal restrictions.

According to the reports, the assistance was allegedly provided in a manner intended to influence electoral behavior.

Investigators further stated that, prior to providing the assistance, data on adult family members was collected, and that the distribution of aid was effectively conditioned on the presence of potential voters within those households, with the aim of shaping their voting decisions.

The press service of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched into the case. It added that numerous procedural actions are underway to identify all individuals involved and clarify the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

By Vafa Guliyeva